Funding reductions lead to job losses at Craven DSS

Published: Monday, April 8, 2013 at 06:27 PM.

Five employees at the Craven County Department of Social Services have lost their jobs because of funding cutbacks.

In all, nine DSS positions ranging from middle management to clerical staff were eliminated, including four posts that were vacant.

The Craven County Board of Commissioners was advised in closed session last week that the reduction in force (RIF) was imminent, and County Manager Jack Veit confirmed Friday that the job cuts had been made.

The RIF was required to make up about a $600,000 shortfall in state and federal funds that would have required some Craven County matching dollars, said Alfreda Stout, deputy director of Social Services.

“This isn’t part of sequestration; it was very similar to what happened last year,” Stout said. “And the reduction in force was just one piece of the business restructuring to deal with the cuts.”

Five employees at the Craven County Department of Social Services have lost their jobs because of funding cutbacks.

In all, nine DSS positions ranging from middle management to clerical staff were eliminated, including four posts that were vacant.

The Craven County Board of Commissioners was advised in closed session last week that the reduction in force (RIF) was imminent, and County Manager Jack Veit confirmed Friday that the job cuts had been made.

The RIF was required to make up about a $600,000 shortfall in state and federal funds that would have required some Craven County matching dollars, said Alfreda Stout, deputy director of Social Services.

“This isn’t part of sequestration; it was very similar to what happened last year,” Stout said. “And the reduction in force was just one piece of the business restructuring to deal with the cuts.”

Stout said the five individuals in the filled posts had been employed at DSS from two years to more than 15.

“They were paid for one two-week pay period as required by our rules,” she said, adding she was unsure of whether they were anticipating the terminations.

“It is always difficult to have to let anybody go, for them to lose their jobs, and these cuts were pretty much across the board and affect every aspect of the department’s work,” Stout said. It reduces the department size to about 180 people.

The cuts affected programs including Income Maintenance, public programs for Food and Nutrition, Medicaid, Child and Family, Adult Services, and clerical and supportive services, she said.

“How do you keep doing what you’re mandated to do without the staff and the revenue for those programs,” Stout asked rhetorically.

“We’ve lost a significant number of employees this year and last year, but the number of programs we’re required to maintain remains the same,” she said. “We have less staff and less revenue, and the case loads grow during difficult economic times.”